Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-22
SNOW BATTLE DURING THE WAR.

SNOW BATTLE DURING THE WAR.
Friendly Contest Between Opposing Con.
federate Forces.
Just after the battle of Fredericksburg
the brigade commanded by the gallant
general. Clement A. Evans-now a de-
vout disciple Of the prince Of peace-was
in winter quarters ON the Rappahannock
river near Port Royal. A snow storm
came and snow fell TO the depth Of a foot.
Gen. Hoke, Of North Carolina, who was
quartered near by with his brigade OF
5000 men, marched over and sent word
to Gen. Evans that he must surrender or
stand the consequence. OF course there
was no surrender. The North CAROLYN
ians, who were making the demand for
surrender, attacked the Georgians on the
flank, where the Thirty-first and Thirty
eighth regiments Glanced TO he. The as
sault was so unexpected and the attack
ing forces were So well maSscd that they
swept everything before them, gong
through the camps and having things
their own way. When the troops Of
Gen. Hoke had pretty well routed Gen.
Evans they struck the Thirteenth Geor-
gia, and had such a lively tusSle that the
rest of the Georgians Were encouraged.
reformed. charged the North Carollnians
and accomplished a complete rout, driv-
ing them pei nell through the snow 10
their winter quarters. three miles away.
The G~eorgians Withdrew, but later In the
day planned an attack on Gen. lloke's
camps, intending 10 bring away anything
portable that could be captured. The
G~eorgians were repulseJ, however, with.
out difficulty, as agUOd many OF tho old
soldiers refused 10 go ON the raid. and
Gen. Hokc's forces Uutnumbered the
forces of Gen. Evans.
In the retreat the distinguished Ball
Ayeritt, of the Thirty first GcpigIl. fell
into a gully fifteen feet deep. and couldn't
get out. lie tried 10 surrender, but the
North Cardinals informed Inn that
they were not taking any piisoners that
day.
You came after an oven" Carolinian
would e>claim: here Is a biscuit 10 put
in it, and the unfortunate Bull wuuld
catch it in the eve OF behind the ear.
When Bull got back To camp le WAS
without his hat. The two battles taken
together made the days fighting a draw.
and ON that each side rested.
Between 5000 and 1000 men were IN
gagged in the snow lsilling.
In January, 1864, while the Confederate
troops were in winter quarters at Dalton
there came a big snow storm. and O,O0O
soldiers went into a regularly organized
snow balling. On one side Of a branch
was the parade ground Of the Georgia and
South Carolina troops, and hack Of that
the quarters. On the opposite side Of
the branch was the parade ground Of the
Tennesseeans, and back of their parade
ground were their quarters. The ground
was frozen TO a depth Of five feet, the
snow was a foot deep and no indications
Of melting.
A day was appointed for the snow
battle. The Tennesseeans marched out
and formed a line Of battle. their drums
beating, bugles blowing. oolors flying and
officers mounted. Every soldier had a
1lapsack full of snow balls. Tie G~evIgians
formed and prepared ~ make the attack
by crossing the branch. There were TO-
900 men on each side, and the scene was
very imposing.
As % us the Georgians crossed the
branch they met a terrific fusillmle from
the Tennesseeans, who were at home in
the SHOW. The commander of tle Ten
nesset,ans. a handsome fellow named
Gordon. who was from Franklin. Tenn,
was captured. but a bold dash WAS made
by the Temnesseeans and Inc wiis rescued.
The Geurgians ami South Carolinians
being unused to the snow, were at a
great disadvantage, and were forced
back across the branch. As the Tennes-
seeans crossed the branch they wet their
snow balls. and the next vollry fired at
the Georgia and Carolina boys was ter
rible in lis effect. Pressing On, the Ten
nessetans captured the quarters and pro-
ceeded to loot the whole %sllebang, carry
ing oil %rations, tobacco, pipes and every
thing else that did not belong 10 the gov
eminent. That snow balling, in which
10000 men took part, was no doubt the
biggest thing Of the kind that ever &C.
CURED IN Georgia, or will ever occur
again.-Cor. Atlanta Constitution.